Massey Harris #2

Well my #2 Massey's arrived this weekend and after looking at the transmission there is a slight difference. the big gear for the differential has one gear on the more complete one and the other has two gears. When we were in Kansas looking at another pair of these #2's we started to discuss the gears and how the second gear did not mesh with another gear.

So the question is why is the gear on there and why did they change to add it? I know the newer parrett H used a 3 speed transmission so maybe these gears are made for that model? And which style would be older?

RE:Massey Harris #2

Tom,

Wish I could help you with detailed info but as you say hard to come by. I seem to recall once seeing an ops manual up in Canada somewhere but remember how relatively useles it was - more of a novel than a facts book!

What's the general condition/completeness of the two you have? Is it going to be a one from two excercise or are you set on restoring the two fully? Parts V. hard to come by but tinwork will be easy if you have an original to follow and measure - mostly straight stuff and only a simple bend in the two hood pieces and catches for them which can easily be cast.

The Buda engine is a nice thing - a lovely slow runner and if you are not unlucky it should be easy to get going. The worse problem I had was the carburettor floats on my two which can stick open and flooding a problem - accessibility of the carb is awful (see the tractor design faults thread) - but there again you are a bit shorter and younger than me. I have found that it is perfectly OK to tow them - they are not the most convenient to crank - so don't be afraid of towing them - just be gentle! I suppose you could belt them but I haven't tried that

No doubt the bottoms are rotted out of the gas/water tank?

Have yours got belt guides on them - or the big bar support for the guides? KO says one of the few differences between the No 1s and 2s was that the 2s had belt guides whilst the 1s didn't. Interestingly one of ours has no belt guide or the support bar and it also has older style Parrett hubs so we believe this to be the older of the two. This is the one that won the MF worldwide prize for oldest working Massey tractor in 1984. Unfortunately neither have their serial no plates but we have had two exact replicas made and put the engine nos on

Have fun in your endeavours and keep us informed. Photo of our twon attached.

RE:Massey Harris #2

Thanks to the reply John, and great picture! I wish mine were like those. But sadly there is not a lot left. I will need to make many new parts and all new tin. The engines will be the tough deal to find. As you know they are an HTU buda engine and seem to be tough to find. I hope to be able to find at least one original engine, but I may have to find another Buda engine that is close. I have been eyeing up another engine that is close and there is a couple near by.

A couple questions. What is the engine numbers on yours?

Also have you ever looked the gears? I have even found a difference in the large bull gears on mine. Both look to have used the belt guide.

Heres a link to some pics of mine and a few others. Mine are the worse looking ones.
http://m578.photobucket.com/albums/tseaberg/Massey%202/?o=0

RE:Massey Harris #2

So they make no sense! 2000 apart and only 500 or so tractors made. And the lower serial number on the younger tractor. The serial number plates are just as inaccessible as the carburettors - if I recall they are to the right of the carbs and part hidden.

Haven't looked at the gears and don't want to!!!! - as long as things are OK - they move OK without any growling or other suspicious noises.

Have you got the original magnetos for yours?

I eventually want to get ours off those awful cut down tractor tyres and onto angle iron strakes as they should be - but I have to confess that they are easier to move on the rubbers!

RE:Massey Harris #2

Hi John, thanks for the engine numbers. Mine is 1533 I think. I believe this engine is newer than most others I have seen because it has a different style engine tag than most. Maybe it had been replaced at one time?

Also how did you tell which one is older and newer?

I do not have a Kingston mag yet but I have found one a friend has. I talked with our mag rebuilder and he said unless you are really stuck on having one don't buy it. I guess they are incredibly hard to find parts for and according to him they don't work great on slow speeds and starting spark is a little weak. I still might get one but am planning on a good brass Bosch.
but I have been informed that I have a lot of work to do before worrying about the mag and paint colors!

RE:Massey Harris #2

Tom,

I was referring to the older and newer tractors NOT the engines. So these are the engine nos in the "older" and "newer" tractors.

On the colours I believe that the burgandy body and green wheels of my "older" tractor are more towards the original colour scheme. It has had a re-piant at some time. The "newer" tractor was painted in MH red and yellow type colours especially for the MF 150th anniversary event at Milton which it was restored for and paraded there.

RE:Massey Harris #2

Hi John, mine both have green paint on the wheels front and back. The frames look maroon, and the bull gears / transmissions look black. Any idea what color pin striping should be? I have seen yellow and black. I am thinking black or green would make most sense?

Made a little progress today on one of mine. Took the rear axle and transmission off. It's looking pretty bare now. The plan is to get some new frame rails bent soon.